Who’s Really Prolonging the 

GAZA WAR?

President Biden’s comments about Israel keep getting worse, as an interview released Tuesday in Time magazine shows. Asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “prolonging the war for his own political self-preservation,” Mr. Biden answered, “I’m not going to comment on that.” Then comment he did: “There is every reason for people to draw that conclusion.” It would be one thing if he meant that Mr. Netanyahu should have kept more troops in Gaza and invaded Rafah months ago to finish the war. That’s what many Israeli critics argue, and they have a good point. But Mr. Biden op[1]posed all that. He means Mr. Netanyahu should have stopped fighting and accepted a U.S.-brokered defeat. In damage-control mode, the President tried to walk back his comment later on Tuesday. His remark had played poorly because he’s the one who has slowed Israel at every stage. After Oct. 7, he told Israel to scale down its ground invasion. Then he supported Egypt’s decision to trap Gazans in the war zone. When the Israelis defeated Hamas in northern Gaza, he pressured Israel to “shift to the next phase” by sending most troops home and fighting with less fire[1]power in southern Gaza. Israel did so, and it very slowly won in Khan Younis. Next, Mr. Biden tried to stop Israel from invading Rafah, insisting wrongly that Israel could never evacuate civilians. He cut off weapons as leverage. Israel eventually invaded Ra[1]fah, but with fewer troops to satisfy the President. That means a slower operation. Mr. Biden’s decision to pressure Israel, while going soft on mediators Egypt and Qatar, has also given Hamas reason to draw out hostage talks and continue the war. As the President acknowledged earlier in his Time interview, Hamas is to blame for the lack of a deal. “Hamas could end this tomorrow,” he said. “The last offer Israel made was very generous,” he added. “Bibi is under enormous pressure on the hostages, and so he’s prepared to do about anything to get the hostages back.” The latest Israeli hostage offer is evidence of that. Mr. Biden’s criticism of Israel, on the other hand, suggests frustration with his own policy failure.

Source:WSJ